Questions & Answers about Samtalen er for kort.
samtalen is the definite form of en samtale (a conversation). The -en suffix marks definiteness in common-gender nouns:
• en samtale = a conversation
• samtalen = the conversation
In this sentence for is an adverb meaning too, placed before adjectives to express excess:
• for kort = too short
You can use it the same way with other adjectives:
• for lang = too long
• for dyr = too expensive
Here kort is a predicative adjective (it follows the verb er). Predicative adjectives in Norwegian are never inflected. Adjectives only get an -e (or other endings) when used attributively before a definite noun:
• Predicative: Samtalen er kort.
• Attributive, definite: den korte samtalen
Use the indefinite article en: • En samtale er for kort.
Use the plural noun samtalene and keep for korte predicative:
• Samtalene er for korte.
Note: In attributive plural you’d also use -e:
• for korte samtaler
• kort describes length in space or time (short in duration/length)
• liten means small in size
So for the duration of something use kort, not liten.
Add altfor (meaning way too): • Samtalen er altfor kort.
• kort = short (length or duration)
• rask = fast (speed or pace)
English quick can map to either depending on context.
Yes, but then it’s attributive. Indefinite attributive uses the uninflected form:
• en kort samtale
Definite attributive requires -e:
• den korte samtalen